In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with FOX 8, Mayor Mitch Landrieu says New Orleans firefighters have had bad leadership of their pension fund, and a judge has overstepped his authority. But the mayor also acknowledges that the city does owe money to nearly 400 retired and current firefighters.more>>

In a wide-ranging exclusive interview with FOX 8, Mayor Mitch Landrieu says New Orleans firefighters have had bad leadership of their pension fund, and a judge has overstepped his authority. But the mayor also acknowledges that the city does owe money to nearly 400 retired and current firefighters.more>>

A board of trustees that spent public money on alcohol and pricey meals may soon lose some of its members. A Louisiana House committee passed a bill Thursday that would alter the make-up of the New Orleans Fire Fighter's Pension & Relief Fund.

Two board members face state ethics charges following our "Playing With Fire" investigative series.

Mayor Mitch Landrieu's chief administrative officer detailed many of the findings in our series of reports.

"There are ethics issues with regard to certain activities of the board members themselves, in terms of board members drawing salaries as CEO's," CAO and Deputy Mayor Andy Kopplin said, "Those salaries doubled in 2010. Very generous benefits… and again, those investigations are continuing."

The board's CEO, Richard Hampton, has been charged by the state's Board of Ethics. And the inspector general is investigating questionable purchases on the public credit card.

"Few controls on credit card use… again, the legislative auditor would have a field day with this," Kopplin said. "All but one board members have credit cards. No formal policy of approving expenses."

Questionable investment decisions have led to the Fire Pension Board losing millions of dollars.

Kopplin told the committee, "Why is change important? Because of questionable investment decisions, because the city has little role on the board, and because board governance is unbalanced."

The Landrieu administration urged the House Retirement Committee to hand over control of the fund to the city. Right now it's managed by a board that's mostly made up of current and retired firefighters.

But Representative Jeff Arnold (D-New Orleans) cautioned the committee, telling them that years ago the city controlled firefighters' retirements.

"That is why this system was created," Arnold said. "In 1967, they bankrupted the original firefighters system that was run by the City of New Orleans. They cannibalized it."

This week, the non-profit group Bureau of Governmental Research came out in support of the bill that would hand over control to the city.

When Committee Vice-Chairman Kirk Talbot (R-River Ridge) asked Hampton whether both the BGR report and our own investigation was simply wrong, Hampton replied, "You used the term ‘spin doctor'… I won't use that term, but I'll tell you, the mayor and the administration has done a wonderful job of amassing a lot of resources to say a lot of things they were saying for them."

The committee also passed a bill that ups the amount of money firefighters contribute to the retirement system. Right now they give 6 percent of their salaries until they reach 20 years of service, at which point they contribute nothing. The committee's bill would require all firefighters to contribute 10 percent -- that will be phased in over the next few years.

Representatives from the New Orleans Fire Department at the meeting strongly opposed the city taking control, so the no vote for that bill was a big win for the firefighters.

The measure requires the approval of the full House and the Senate before it becomes law.

Just over a week after avoiding questions about the criminal investigation into her spending, Mayor-elect LaToya Cantrell addressed allegations at a Chamber of Commerce meeting today, telling attendees she's not a criminal.

Just over a week after avoiding questions about the criminal investigation into her spending, Mayor-elect LaToya Cantrell addressed allegations at a Chamber of Commerce meeting today, telling attendees she's not a criminal.

“I get a call from police saying they tried to stop them and sure enough they hit a pole,” says Kynisha Pugh. It was last month when police say two girls stole a car and crashed it into a power pole on St. Bernard Avenue.

“I get a call from police saying they tried to stop them and sure enough they hit a pole,” says Kynisha Pugh. It was last month when police say two girls stole a car and crashed it into a power pole on St. Bernard Avenue.

Youngstown State University student Albert Maruna was caught red-handed and arrested this week after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old boy, who turned out to be an undercover officer.

Youngstown State University student Albert Maruna was caught red-handed and arrested this week after he allegedly attempted to have sex with a 15-year-old boy, who turned out to be an undercover officer.